The Stainless Steel Rat's LiveJournal

The Rat who is made of Stainless Steel

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind (1984). Based on the manga by Hayao Miyazaki and also directed by Hayao Miyazaki. The film starts in a post-apocalyptic wasteland filled with strange plants that are choking the atmosphere with spores. A cloaked man wearing a respirator is riding on a peculiar animal that is also wearing a respirator. The man enters a decaying house and picks up a toy doll that disintegrates in his hand. He looks up into the sky where huge and strange insects are flying. Like a lot of Miyazaki, I first saw this film a few years ago (2007 according to LiveJournal). I didn't do a detailed review then, so I'm catching up. For me Nausicaä is another of Miyazaki's best. It's somewhat different in topic to Spirited Away and My Neighbour Totoro, and more like Castle in the Sky and Princess Mononoke. Similar to the latter two it also has a bit of violence in the story, along with the somewhat frightening insect creatures, so isn't suitable for very young ones. The story is fantastic, and both rich and detailed. As with a lot of Miyazaki, it's great to see a female lead character. The animation is also extremely well done. The soundtrack was perhaps a bit forgettable, but it doesn't detract from the rest of the film. All-in-all a fantastic film and a must watch for animé fans. 5/5 (Excellent)